Munchin' on Jesus

John 6:41-48 “So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life.”

Jesus’ Teaching is True

After Jesus says what He said last week, the crowds start to ask how He can say these things.

What are some of the things Jesus said last week?

“I am the bread of life”

“My Father”

John 6:29 “Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.””

Jesus then goes on to explain further what he’s said

Jesus is the Bread of Life.

What do you think Jesus means when He says, “I am the Bread of Life?”

He gives eternal life

He sustains us

We find our hope in Him.

Jesus compares Himself to manna

Manna was this bread that came down from heaven for the Jews.

It was a miracle! It was literally food from nothing!

But, Jesus says He’s better than that

Why?

Because people still died after they ate the manna!

It wasn’t a forever food! Everyone who’s eaten manna is already dead!

But, Jesus is the better manna because He fulfills entirely and gives new life to all who believe in Him.

So, Jesus’ teaching is true! The things He says are correct, but it isn’t really received that way by the crowds.

John 6:59-66 “Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum. When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.”

What did the crowds think about Jesus and His teachings?

Jesus’ Teaching is Hard.

They had to konw Jesus was speaking figuratively, but they still didn’t like what He has to say!

v. 54 even has a word which in the Greek means “to munch,” Like you are literally munching on Jesus!

What do you think Jesus means?

To eat is to believe

We “eat” the spiritual food of Jesus’ sacrifice so that we can come to new life.

Why is this so hard to believe?

Believing in Jesus means believing that He’s God, that you’re a sinner, and that you need help.

All of these things are so difficult to accept!

John 6:67-71 “So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.”

But, the disciples stay there! Why?

Jesus is the Only Way

They know that, even though Jesus has said some tough stuff, He speaks the truth!

We can only find our hope in Jesus.

It is easier to put your hope in instant gratification or works like last week, but it doesn’t hold up under the weight of the world!

Even Judas, the guy who betrays Jesus, stays; because even he got an inkling of God working in Jesus.

Jesus is the bread of life, and we desperately need Him.

The true sustenance and refreshment of our spiritual life are to be found only in him who died that we might live. F.F. Bruce